Engine-stop.



c. E. EDGAR.

ENGINE STOP. APPLlCATlON FILED JUNE h 1915.

1,287,927. Patented Dec.17,1918.

2 SHEETS'-SHEET INVENTOR I [Z01 EFL/4 ATTORNEY WITNESS m: :mmns runs =0. PHOlv-LIUO 13m 01 v C. E. EDGAR.

ENGINE STOP.

APPUCATION FILED was 1. m5.

Tateuted Dec. 17, 1918.

2 SHZETS-SHEET 2.

A TTORIV E Y m: "DID": r m. co. mam-mun. wmmw l view is to provide a safety stop arrange- CHARLES E. EDGAR, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

ENGINE-STOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1'7, 1918.

Application filed June 1, 1915. Serial No. 31,322.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. EDGAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine-Stops and Accessories, of which the following is a full and exact specification.

The present invention relates to engine accessories, and one particular object in meat whereby the supply of motive fluid to the engine will be promptly shut off in case one of a number of emergency conditions develops which renders it expedient to stop the engine without delay. One of these conditions arises when the governor or governor drive becomes out of order, and an improved stopping device-is provided for taking care of this emergency. This stopping device is also provided with an adjustable control actuated from a moving engine part whereby the stop may be operated in case of acceleration of the engine above any given speed.

Where the engine is included as a part of a compressor, it is further desired that the speed of the engine shall not exceed that necessary to maintain a given pressure in the compressor cylinder, and accordingly an adjustable control is provided for actuating the stop automatically when the given limit of pressure has been exceeded.

A still further means is provided for causing the stop to operate immediately in the event of liquid becoming entrapped between the piston and either of the compressor cylinder heads. Incidentally the foregoing provision includes a gage construction acting not only as one element of the stop control mechanism but also as a means by which the maximum pressure attained by the com pressor is automatically recorded.

Having in view these general objects, as well as minor objects as will hereinafter appear, the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanyin drawings illustrating one mode of embodying the same in practice, after which those features and combinations deemed to be novel will be severally pointed out and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary slde elevatlon of an engine and compressor construction embodying the present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the contractile member of the stop device;

Fig. 3 is a detail partly sectional View of one of the stop control members with the face plate removed;

Fig. i is a section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through a compressor showing the arrangement of the gage control connections; Fig. 6 is a section on the line VI-VI of Fig. 5, on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 7 is a diagram of the wiring connections.

The drawings illustrate the application of my improvements to an engine construction of the Corliss type, for which the same are especially adapted. Referring particularly to Fig. l, a portion of the steam cylinder casing 2 is represented in the foreground, with the usual oscillating wrist-plate l to which are connected the valve rods 6 and the reciprocating drive link 8. The upper valve rods 6 operate the lifting arms 10 which carry the latches 12 for engagement with the studs let of the inlet valve arms 16 connected with the dash pot rods 18. The positions of the latches 12 are controlled by the cams 20 operated by the reach rods 22 which connect with the bell crank 24 on the governor standard 26. The foregoing merely represents a construction which is common and well-known.

The bell-crank 24 is connected to the sliding governor sleeve 28 by a contractile link connection which comprises the following construction. A cylinder 30 having a vent opening 32 near one end is fitted with a piston 3i and piston rod 36 on the lower end of which is threaded the adjustable link 38 for attachment to the bell-crank 24. In the upper end of the cylinder 30 is tightly fitted the rod 40 having 'a similar adjustable connection 42 to pin or stud let carried by the sliding sleeve 28 of the governor. A spring %6 is coiled about the rod 36 within the cylinder 30 for the purpose of lifting said rod and thereby contracting or shortening the connection between the bell-crank and governor in case the latter is rendered inoperative. Normally, however, the above parts comprising this contractile connection are held in extended relation by means of a detent pin 48 mounted slidingly in the lower head of the cylinder for the purpose of engaging an annular recess or groove 50 formed in the rod T he outer end or this pin connects with a link forming a toggle joint 51 with a link 56, which latter is pivoted at 58 in a bracket 60 secured at the base of the cylinder 30. This toggle con nection is held normally straightened by means of a spring (52 for the purpose of projecting the detent pin into tne groove 50. The link 56 projects out from the bracket 60 in position to be engaged either manually or by a pin or lug secured to the side of the governor standard 26 in the event that the overnor sleeve 28 drops from any cause. Such engagementof the outer end of link 56 with the lug "o1 obviouslv willbreak the toggle connection and thereby withdraw the detent and release the piston rod and piston to the action of the spring 16, with consequent turning of the bell-crank and release of the latches 12 from the studs 1%, with the result that the inlet valves remain closed. The piston 31 is provided wi h one or more packing rings (56 to render it tight-fitting enough to cushion on the air entrapped 111 the cylinder above the vent and thereby cause the moving parts to come to rest without shock or jar.

Associated with this contractile connection between the governor and tie valvereleasing members is also provided. an electrical means for tripping the detent 18, which means comprises an electromagnetic solenoid 68 carried by the brackets 70, TO, and circuited with manually operable circuit-closing means as well as with automatic circuit-closing ments oi the wrist-plate T 1e plunger 72 oi the solenoid operates through a guide plug 71 mounted on the bracket 60, said plunger being positioned in line with the toggle-joint About the plunger is coiled a spring 76 between the plug 71 and collar 78 on the plunger, for returning the latter and holding it in inoperative position with its lower end spaced slightly above the toggle-joint. The solenoid 68 is connected through the circuit 80 with the battery 82 (see Fig. 7), one side or this circuit being connected with the battery through the contacts of relay coil 81 in the circuit 86. Connected with this circuit 86 is a circuit 88 provided with one or more push buttons 89 located at y desired remote points from which to close the circuit through the relay and thereby operate the stop. Also connected with the circuit 86 a fieI-iible con.- duit 90 leading to points 92 and 91 on an automatic circuit-closing device 96 provided with the hinged clamping collar 98 securing the device to the wrist-plate hub 100 (see Fig. 1) by means of the belt 102 The device 96 comprises a casing provided with a removable face-plate 1041 and wit n a pivot stud 106 which supports a disk 108, the stud to bring it into means actuated by the movepassing through the lower portion of the disk near its eriphery for permitting the disk to oscillate. The insulated post 94: projects into an opening 110 near the upper portion of the disk, said opening being of suthcient size to allow oscillation of the disk and out of contact with the leaf spring contact member 112 carried by the post. One side of the disk is radially recessed to provide a pocket for a coil spring 11% which is adjustably compressed by a screw 116 mounted in the housing 96 and clamped by a nut 118. By this means the disk is held yieldingly against the stop member 120 carried slidingly by the housing 96 inline with the screw 116. This stop 120 provides a convenient means for testing the contact to be made between the disk and the contact-member 112. The disk operates on the inertia principle, the spring 114: being adjusted so that the disk is held against the stop or test button 120 so long as the speed of the engine is normal but as soon as the engine speed exceeds that for which the de' vice is set the oscillating motion commui'ncatcd thereto overcomes the inertia of the disk and the action of the spring 11% with t is result that the disk leaves the stop button 120 and moves into engagement with the contact member 112 and so closes the circuit through the relay and operates the stoptrippino' mechanism at the governor by closing the circuit through the solenoid.

The means for controlling the action of the solenoid from the high-pressure side of a compressor driven from the engine will now be described. A compressor cylinder is represented at the rear of the engine cylinder in Fig. 1., from the outlet valves of which cylinder 122 is led the high-pressure line 12a to which is connected at either the gage-board (not shown) or at any suitable point a gage 126 of the construction shown in detail in Fig. 6. This gage comprises the usual pressure index 128 respond ing to the varying pressure in the pipe 124 and a maximum pressure index 130, the latter having a contact lug 132 adapted to be engaged by a contact lug 13% on the index 128. The index 130 is carried by a ring 133 which is rotatably mounted on the insu lated dial plate 135, being secured in place by the snap ring 136. The ring 132 is provided with the crown gear 138 with which mesnes an adjustin pinion 140 operated by the insulated shaft 1&2 having the fiber thumb piece 1 1% projecting at the side of the gage casing. The gage is connected with the circuit ldtiwhich is in turn connected with the circuit 86, the circuit 146 making connection with the gage at the post 148 (grounded with the gage casing) and the insulated post 150 which is in circuit through a bracket 152 and screw 15% with the dial slat-e 184. With a gage so constructed it will be obvious that the index 130 may be set at any desired point on the scale and that the circuit will be closed through the circuit 146 immediately should the pressure in the line 12a rise to the same as that indicated by the index 130, due to the index 128 bringing its contact lug 13% into engagement with the lug 132. Thus the solenoid is automatically actuated to operate the stop-tripping mechanism at the governor; and if the index 130 has been moved to any extent by the other index, said index 130 will remain in its new position to record the maximum pressure which has been registered by the index 128.

A similar automatic circuit-closing gage arrangement is employed for the purpose of protecting the cylinder 122 (see Fig. 5) against damage which might result from liquid becoming entrapped within the cylinder between the piston and either cylinder head 156. A check valve 158 is connected to each cylinder head, and these valves are connected together by av pipe line 160 communicating with the T 162 provided with the check valve 164 and with the pipe 166, to which the gage 126 (similar to the gage 126 above described) is applied. The T 162 is also fitted with a purge valve 168 for permitting any scale, etc., which may collect under the check valves 158 to be blown out. To the posts 148 and 150 of the gage 126 is connected the circuit 170, which is also connected with the circuit 86. lVith this construction and arrangement and with the index 130 of the gage set to slightly above normal discharge pressure, it willbe understood that when the piston 172 strikes any liquid in the cylinder the excess pressure due to the concussion lifts the check valve at that end of the cylinder and raises the valve 164, admitting the excess pressure to the gage and thereby closing the circuit and operating the solenoid.

It will thus be apparent that a simple and effective safety stop arrangement, together with controlling means therefor, has been devised for accomplishing the purposes of the invention. Should the governor become disabled the sleeve 28 and its connections will drop and the stop will at once be. actuated by engagement of the link 56 with the lug or pin 64:. The operation of the electrical controlling means will be clear from the foregoing without other explanation. It is obvious that by the rrangcment described and the mode of cutoff, the engine is stopped by recourse to the quickest possible means available. When such emergency conditions arise as, for example, the accumulation of liquid in the compressor, it is imperative that the engine come to rest with the least loss of time practicable in order to avoid the knocking out of a cylinder head or other damage; if simply the throttle be closed, there might still be enough steam at boiler pressure between. it and the engine cylinder to effect several-revolutions of the engine, but by instantaneous closing of the inlet valves the engine is brought to a full stop and in the least possible time in which it can be accomplished with safety. By the push-button circuits the electrical control for the stop may be operated by the engineer from any safe positions selected for the location of such push-buttons or switches at a distance. The high-pressure connections from the compressor cylinder are adequately protected by the automatic gage circuit-closing means, and the auxiliary gage index serves not only as a circuitclosing element but acts also to display a record of the maximum pressure reached in the event of a pressure in excess of the normal working pressure being registered by the other index. The mechanical circuitclosing device, comprising the oscillating disk, affords an effective means directly responsive to the engine movements for operating the stop-tripping means at the governor; this device, furthermore, is susccptible of fine adjustment through a wide range, and the construction and arrangement of the adjusting means is such that the same can conveniently be regulated to any desired speed limit while the engine is running.

While the above represents what is now deemed to be the preferred mode of practising the invention, the right is reserved to such formal changes and modifications as may fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

Claims:

1. In an automatic engine stop, the combination with the engine governor and valve-releasing members, of a contractile connection between said governor and valvereleasing members having means for holding said connection normally extended, an automatic tripping device arranged to release said holding means to permit contraction of said connection, a gas compressor-cylinder provided with a piston and driven from said engine, and means actuated by said piston encountering entrapped liquid at either end of said cylinder for causing operation of said tripping device.

2. In an engine stop, the combination with the engine governor and valve-releasing members, of a contractile connection between said governor and valve-releasing members having means for holding said connection normally extended, an electrically-operated tripping device arranged to release said holding means to permit contraction of said connection, a compressorcylinder provided with a piston driven from said engine, and automatic circuit-closing means associated with said tripping device and arranged to be actuated by said piston encountering entrapped liquid at either end of said cylinder for causing operation of said tripping means.

3. In an automatic engine stop, the combination with the engine and valve-releasing members, of a gas compresso1'cylinder pro vided with a piston driven from said engine, and means automatically actuated by said piston encountering entrapped liquid at either end of said cylinder for regulating said valve-releasing members.

4:. In an automatic engine stop, the combination with the engine and valve-releasing members, of a compressor-cylinder provided with a piston driven from said engine, and combined gage and regulator means con nected with said cylinder and acting to register the pressure therein and regulate said valve-releasing members when registering a pressure due to said piston encounter ing liquid entrapped in the cylinder.

5. In an automatic engine stop, the combination with the engine governor and valvereleasing members, of a contractile connection between said governor and members comprising a cylinder having a side vent opening at a slight distance from one end of the cylinder, a rod provided with a piston operating in said cylinder past said ventr opening, and meanstending to hold said connection normally extended.

6. In an automatic engine stop, the combination with the engine governor and valvereleasing members, of a contractile connection between said governor and releasing members comprising a cylinder having a vent opening, a rod provided with a piston operating in said cylinder, and means tending to hold said connection normally extended.

7. In an automatic engine stop, the combination with the engine governor and valve releasing members, of a contractile connection between said governor and releasing members, a detent adapted to hold said con- Gopies o this patent may be obtained for five cents each,

nection normally extended, and toggle means connected with said detent and held norma lly in position for projecting said detent into operative position.

8. In an automatic engine stop, the combination with the engine governor and valvereleasing members, of a contractile connection between said governor and releasing members, a detent adapted to hold said connection normally extended, and toggle means connected with said detent and held normally in position for projecting said detent into operative position, said toggle means being provided with a projecting portion adapted to be engaged for operating said toggle means to retract said detent.

I 9. In an automatic engine stop, the combination with the engine governor and valvereleasing members, of a contractile connection between said governor and releasing members, adetent adapted to hold said conection normally extended, toggle means connected with said detent and held nor mally in'position for projecting said detent into operative position, and an automatically operated tripping device associated with said toggle means for latter to retract said detent.

10. In an automatic engine stop, the combination with the engine and valve-releasing members, of means tending normally to move said members into valve-releasing position, holding means for maintaining said first means inoperative, an electrically operated tripping device arranged to trip said holding means, a compressor-cylinder provided with a piston driven from said engine, and automatic circuit-closing means associated with said device and arranged to be actuated by said piston encountering entrapped liquid at either end of said cylinder for causing operation of said device and releasing said members to the action of said first means.

CHARLES E. EDGAR.

by addressing the Commissioner of ratents,

Washingtcn, l c."

operating the 

